In order to create a reliable durable floor, it is necessary to form a base with great strength. This design should be more durable than the flooring. According to these parameters, the real leader is the concrete base. It is dry, smooth and durable, providing an ideal base for any top coat. Such floors are able to withstand high loads, which allows them to be poured in those rooms where it is planned to install equipment and heavy pieces of furniture.
Features
The above base is used for different purposes. This can be leveling the surface, installing underfloor heating, raising the level of the base and striving to insulate the floors in the premises. For installation, a variety of technologies are used that allow materials to withstand heavy loads. If the work is done correctly, then the subfloor will cope with the increased level of humidity. Such designs are increasingly being used in the private sector.development.
Depending on the purpose of the premises and the type of building, the technology will be different. Before proceeding with the formation of a concrete base, you must decide which type to choose. These could be:
- layered floors;
- single-layer cement-sand screed;
- reinforced floors.
The first variety has a complex structure. In the manufacture of such a design, the filling is carried out in several layers. Multi-layer technology is used for the reconstruction of floors. As for the single-layer screed of cement and sand, it is most often used in rooms with a small area. There are no additional layers here, which ensures high rigidity. This design is not stable when it comes to heavy loads. It is reasonable to pour such a floor in a small house, outbuildings, apartments or garages.
Concrete base can be reinforced. This type of flooring is the most durable. Here reinforcement is used, which allows to reduce the weight and thickness of the structure. The strength of the floors is much more. For reinforcement are used:
- steel fibers;
- mesh;
- rods;
- synthetic material.
Installation of such floors is carried out in rooms where there is a high load on the floors. These should include:
- hangars;
- large buildings;
- factory shops;
- car parks.
Technology of work: preparation
To fill the floor, it will be necessary to perform preparatory work. It's about the foundation. If the floor is poured in the apartment, then the old floor covering must be removed, as well as the concrete screed must be torn off in order to reach the ceiling. The thickness of the concrete floor is usually 5 cm. To remove it, you must use a hammer drill. As soon as you have removed the old floor, the surface should be cleaned of dirt. If the screed has no obvious damage, breaks and cracks, it can be left, having started leveling the surface for a new floor covering.
When work is carried out in private homes, things are somewhat more complicated. The concrete floor of the first floor is often made on the ground, which requires additional labor. Before pouring the concrete base, it is necessary to set a mark at the level of a meter from the base of the doorway. Using the level, the mark is transferred to the walls around the entire perimeter of the room. From these marks, 1 m is marked down, which will be the zero level to which you will fill the floor. In order to see this level, nails are hammered into the marks, between which a cord is pulled.
If the floor is laid on the ground, then it is necessary to remove about 25 cm of soil. The surface is leveled horizontally and compacted. To do this, you can use a log with a board or a special vibrating plate. 5 cm of gravel is poured onto the plane, which are well watered and compacted. 10 cm of sand is poured on top, which is also watered and compacted. During the preparation phase with the help of the level, it is necessary to ensure thatthe base was horizontal.
If the project provides for communications under the floor, they are laid simultaneously with sand filling, hidden in boxes. A 10-cm layer of crushed stone is covered on top, which is compacted and again sprinkled with sand to get a flat surface. The crushed stone fraction should be about 50 mm. To comply with the level of all layers on the walls, you can put marks. Please note that the concrete floor must be at least 2 cm thick.
Insulation
If you are thinking about how to lay a concrete base, then you must also insulate. To do this, you can use plastic film, waterproofing membranes or other roll materials. For high-quality waterproofing, the film is laid in several layers, and other materials can be laid in one layer. It is important to provide a 20 cm overlap, and fasten the joints with adhesive tape. The edges are brought to the walls with an overlap so that they reach the zero mark.
The material is glued with adhesive tape to the surface of the walls. In addition to waterproofing, you will also need to perform thermal insulation. Depending on the technology, the following materials can be used:
- expanded clay;
- stone bas alt wool;
- extruded polystyrene foam;
- chipboard;
- cork;
- insulated linoleum;
- roll isolon;
- carpet;
- perlite;
- foam.
Reinforcement
Concrete foundation necessarily provides for reinforcement,if the surface will be subjected to increased loads. To do this, use a plastic or metal mesh. It can be made independently, welded from metal wire. The thickness should vary from 3 to 5 mm. The mesh is laid on stands 3 cm high so that after pouring it turns out to be a single whole.
If you decide to use a soft reinforcing mesh, the laying pins are clogged, and then the mesh is stretched between them. Another material for these purposes are reinforcing bars. Their thickness can range from 8 to 15 mm. Elements are welded together in a grid.
Formwork installation
Laying a concrete base provides for the installation of formwork. To do this, the space of the room must be divided into equal rectangles, the size of which is selected so that the filling can be done in one go. For formwork, you can use moisture-resistant plywood or boards.
Now the guides that will divide the room are laid. Their height should correspond to the zero level. As guides, you can use a wooden block, a metal pipe or a board. The guides are laid on the prepared base and mounted on a thick cement mortar. It is necessary to install formwork between the guides and form "cards".
Before the concrete floor is formed, the rails and formwork must be leveled to zero using the appropriate construction tool. In order to easily get the formwork and concrete guides, they are lubricatedspecial oil. This will separate the elements from the concrete.
Preparation of mortar and pouring
In order for the floor to be durable and strong, it is poured in one go. If there is a financial possibility, it is necessary to order the mixture at the factory. If finances do not allow, you can do everything yourself. To do this, prepare:
- sand;
- concrete mixer;
- cement;
- rubble.
Cement must correspond to the M400 or M500 brand, because the strength of concrete depends on it. The sand should be river sand, it should not contain clay and impurities. For concrete, use part cement, four parts crushed stone, 2 parts sand and 0.5 parts water.
Concrete is kneaded in a concrete mixer and poured into the "card". The solution is leveled with a shovel. It must be pierced and stretched over the entire area. This will compact the mixture and expel air from it.
For better shrinkage, use a vibrator. As soon as concrete milk appears on the surface, shrinkage can be stopped by moving to another "map". Concrete must be poured starting from the opposite corner from the door. You need to move towards the door.
Surface leveling
As soon as a few "maps" are filled, you can level up. For this, the meter rule applies. It may be somewhat longer. It is installed on guides and attracted to itself. Excess concrete will fall intoempty cards, and the floor level can be brought to zero.
After that, the formwork is removed in aligned places, and the voids are filled. Gradually, you should continue pouring. Then the concrete is left for 3-4 days. Every day it should be moistened with a small amount of water so that it reaches gradually and does not crack. The surface can be covered with plastic wrap and left to fully cure for 4 weeks, wetting it from time to time.
After that, a layer of screed is applied to the floor. To do this, prepare a liquid cement mortar or self-leveling mixture with the addition of binders. The screed is made from the corner. After completion of these works, the surface is left for two to three days, during which it is wetted with water. Once the screed has hardened, the flooring can be laid.
Tile laying: tool preparation
Before you start laying tiles on a concrete base, you need to prepare the tools, namely:
- perforator;
- rule;
- manual tile cutter;
- bubble building level;
- sponge;
- capacity;
- spatulas;
- plastic crosses.
Puncher can be replaced with a drill, which will allow you to prepare a working solution. There should be 3 spatulas, one of them is notched, the other is narrow, the third is wide. Laying tiles on a concrete base should begin with the preparation of the adhesive. To do this, cold water is poured into the bucket to a sixth of the volume. To the waterdry mixture is added. The components must be thoroughly mixed, achieving uniformity of the solution.
If the glue turns out to be liquid, you can add a dry component and mix the solution again. When the mixer begins to rotate with a heavy load, part of the dry mixture can be supplemented with water. Once you reach the desired consistency, the mixture is left for 5 minutes, and then mixed again.
Work technology
If you decide to lay the tiles on a concrete base, then at the next stage you can proceed to the main part of the work. First, a layer of adhesive is applied to the surface of the screed with a narrow spatula. A notched trowel, which should be held vertically, must be used to apply the mortar so that the tool is in contact with a solid substrate. Tiles are laid on a leveled layer of glue on a concrete base. The product must be seated by crushing the adhesive solution. The position of the product must be controlled in the horizontal plane and in relation to adjacent elements.
How to lay tiles on a concrete base - you know. But it is also important to remember that crosses or wedges must be placed between the tiles of floor tiles or porcelain stoneware. This will form the longitudinal and transverse seams. The distance between the tiles after you fill with grout or cement mortar. This is done after finishing the tiling of the floor surface, when the glue sets enough so that you can move around the finish without shifting the elements.
Laying stone
Laying stone on a concrete base must be accompanied by the right choice of adhesive. If you plan to use flagstone for the job, then you must make sure that the mortar is suitable for the exterior cladding. Experts recommend purchasing only specialized adhesives, because universal ones are not always able to provide the desired result, which you have to pay for. Flagstone paving can be carried out not only on a new concrete base, but also on an old concrete path. If the surface was cast a long time ago or you want to revet the old concrete path, then it is washed and treated with a primer. When there is residual moisture in the material, nothing else needs to be done.
The stone is laid on a concrete base so that the products have a thickness ranging from 25 to 40 mm. The flagstone is laid out along the path, you will have to choose the pattern yourself, as well as determine the uniformity of the gaps. The edges are trimmed with an angle grinder with a diamond wheel. After kneading the glue, it is applied to the concrete base, where the stone is then laid out in accordance with the pattern.
You should start with the thickest tiles, while thinner ones will be needed to bring the surface under the level. The flagstone is pressed into the adhesive mixture so that no voids remain in the solution. The glue must occupy all the space, otherwise water will accumulate in the voids, which, when frozen, will squeeze out the tile. You need to try not to apply too much so that the solution fills only the seams.
Laying paving slabs
Paving slabs on a concrete base can be laid on a sand-cement pad. To do this, the sand is sieved and mixed with cement in a ratio of six to one. The layer should have a thickness of 10 cm or less, taking into account the thickness of the pavers. The surface is compacted with a vibrating plate or a special log. It is important to provide a slope on the surface.
It is better to install the pegs as often as possible, because even the tightest thread can sag by one meter. Beacons are laid out along the site, which are tightly pressed against the pillow. From the lace to the lighthouse there should be a distance equal to the thickness of the tile. To this value, you must add a centimeter for sealing.
Between the beacons, you should maintain a distance less than the length of the rule. Then, with the help of the latter, it is necessary to pull off the surface, focusing on the beacons. At the next stage, you can lay paving slabs on a concrete base. This must be done not end-to-end, but with the formation of seams of 5 mm. They will prevent cracking of the material when the coating moves from moisture and temperature changes.
It is necessary to proceed from the curb. Each tile must be leveled by tapping with a mallet. It is also necessary to check the horizontal level. You will have to press down the entire surface with a vibrating plate so that the tiles sit on taut threads. If such equipment is not available, then when laying it is necessary to use a wide cut of the board. It is laid flat on several tiles and nailed with a mallet to the desiredheight.
Heated floor on concrete
Having made a concrete base with your own hands, you can achieve coziness and comfort in the room by laying pipes through which hot water will flow. The rough surface is cleaned of debris and dust, then waterproofing is laid. A damper tape is glued along the perimeter of the room, which will compensate for the linear expansion of the screed.
Next, a layer for thermal insulation is created, and then pipes are laid. The circulation of water in the system must be checked at this stage, this will remove excess debris, air and construction dust. When laying a warm floor on a concrete base, the next step is to mount the reinforcing mesh on the pipes. At the final stage, the concrete screed is poured. If you want to lighten the floor, you can use a self-levelling compound or semi-dry mix.
